Mermaid vs Microsoft Visio:Which is more popular?
In September 2026, Microsoft Visio had more branded searches than Mermaid among diagramming software worldwide. Microsoft Visio had about 413,000 branded searches, while Mermaid had 55,300. Microsoft Visio made up 6.8% of all diagramming software searches we track, and Mermaid accounted for 0.91%. When we asked ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about diagramming software, Mermaid appeared in three of the five answers and Microsoft Visio in two. Mermaid was mentioned before Microsoft Visio in three out of four answers that named either.
Who do people search for more?
Microsoft Visio, about 7 searches for every 1 for Mermaid
Who does AI mention more?
Mermaid, mentioned in 3 of 5 answers, Microsoft Visio in 2
Who does AI recommend more?
Mermaid, named ahead of Microsoft Visio in 3 of 4 answers
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Top diagramming software in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions and two Google AI Overviews, Mermaid was mentioned in three out of five: in all three ChatGPT answers, but not in either of the two Google AI Overviews. Microsoft Visio was mentioned in two out of five: in one of the three ChatGPT answers and in one of the two Google AI Overviews. Mermaid was listed before Microsoft Visio in three out of four answers that named either.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
draw.io1st
Lucidchart2nd
Miro3rd
Mermaid4th
Whimsical5th
Excalidraw6th
Microsoft Visio7th
SmartDraw8th
Creately–
Gliffy–
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
draw.io5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Miro5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Lucidchart5 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 2 of 2 Google answers
Excalidraw3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Mermaid3 of 5Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Whimsical3 of 5Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Microsoft Visio2 of 5Named in 1 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
SmartDraw1 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 1 of 2 Google answers
Creately0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
Gliffy0 of 5Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answersNamed in 0 of 2 Google answers
See every answer about diagramming software
5 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which diagramming tool should I use?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best diagramming tools?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What's the best diagramming tool for flowcharts?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“diagramming software”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“flowchart software”
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in the United States on October 20, 2026.
Is Mermaid or Microsoft Visio more popular in search?
This chart shows how often people search Google for Mermaid and Microsoft Visio by name. Each line represents a brand's share of searches for all ten diagramming software we track, month by month, from English-language searches worldwide.
Share of searches by month for Microsoft Visio, Mermaid. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | draw.io | Miro | Excalidraw | Lucidchart | Microsoft Visio | SmartDraw | Mermaid | Creately | Gliffy | Whimsical |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 34.1% | 33.3% | 8.2% | 12.4% | 8% | 1.7% | 1.6% | 0.61% | 0.17% | 0.01% |
| Nov 2025 | 37.3% | 29.8% | 9% | 11.2% | 8.2% | 1.8% | 1.9% | 0.67% | 0.15% | 0.01% |
| Dec 2025 | 37.3% | 30.1% | 11% | 9.2% | 8.3% | 1.5% | 1.9% | 0.55% | 0.16% | 0.01% |
| Jan 2026 | 36.5% | 29.3% | 10.7% | 9% | 9.9% | 1.8% | 2.2% | 0.44% | 0.19% | 0.01% |
| Feb 2026 | 35.6% | 28.5% | 10.5% | 10.7% | 9.7% | 2.1% | 2.1% | 0.53% | 0.18% | 0.02% |
| Mar 2026 | 36.7% | 29.3% | 10.8% | 11.1% | 8.1% | 1.8% | 1.4% | 0.54% | 0.16% | 0.01% |
| Apr 2026 | 36.9% | 29.5% | 10.8% | 11.1% | 8.1% | 1.5% | 1.5% | 0.44% | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| May 2026 | 40.5% | 26.6% | 12% | 10.2% | 7.3% | 1.3% | 1.5% | 0.4% | 0.12% | 0.01% |
| Jun 2026 | 36.6% | 29.5% | 13.2% | 9.4% | 8.1% | 1.2% | 1.6% | 0.3% | 0.11% | 0.02% |
| Jul 2026 | 35.3% | 28.2% | 15.6% | 9.4% | 8.3% | 1.4% | 1.4% | 0.28% | 0.13% | 0.02% |
| Aug 2026 | 35.5% | 28.2% | 15.6% | 9.5% | 7.9% | 1.8% | 1.3% | 0.28% | 0.13% | 0.01% |
| Sep 2026 | 37.6% | 30% | 13.5% | 9.3% | 6.8% | 1.5% | 0.91% | 0.3% | 0.09% | <0.01% |
How has the Mermaid and Microsoft Visio comparison changed over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Microsoft Visio was ahead of Mermaid in every measured month of the 12 months ending September 2026.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Mermaid’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide moved from 1.6% to 0.91%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 107K to 55.3K.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Microsoft Visio’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide moved from 8% to 6.8%, and its estimated monthly branded searches moved from 535K to 413K.
How did search popularity change for diagramming software worldwide in September 2026?
2 changes

In September 2026, Microsoft Visio lost share of searches among diagramming software worldwide, from 7.9% to 6.8%.

Mermaid’s share of searches among diagramming software worldwide has lost ground for 3 months in a row, from 1.6% to 0.91% in September 2026.
How are branded searches counted?
8 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Mermaid’s and Microsoft Visio’s names. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brands is growing, holding steady, or fading.
Mermaid
2 branded search terms
- mermaid chart
- mermaid js
Microsoft Visio
6 branded search terms
- flowchart microsoft visio
- microsoft visio
- microsoft visio app
- microsoft visio diagrams
- microsoftvisio
- visio
Other head-to-heads among diagramming software

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